Having a higher level of spirituality helps lessen depression in stroke survivors and their caregivers and boosts their quality of life, according to new research. The study included data from 223 caregiver-stroke survivor pairs in Italy who completed questionnaires measuring spirituality, depression and quality of life between 2016 and 2018. Survivors who scored above average… Continue reading Spirituality Eases Depression for Some Stroke Patients
Tag: Spirituality
Finding Wholeness in A Fractured World
Happiness can seem like an endless journey fraught with many, often contradicting theories. There’s what you should and shouldn’t do; training states of mind; economic considerations; health; family; meaning; philosophy; spirituality – the list goes on. But what actually works? “As a newborn, they found me on a frigid winter’s day inside a brown paper… Continue reading Finding Wholeness in A Fractured World
The Art of Having It All
By Christy Whitman Many of us feel like the universe often holds a far bigger vision for us than we are capable of seeing for ourselves at any particular moment in time. As we get older, and experience life, we see that getting ahead requires that we embrace change and understand that we need to… Continue reading The Art of Having It All
Are You an Automaton?
Many of us seem to be closeted seekers of spiritual enlightenment. But most of us, apparently, aren’t able or willing to admit that we’re inclined toward such seeking, says Jim Starr, a computer programmer, hospice volunteer, and “Jersey Yogi.” While there are a number of anecdotal examples any of us can point to in order… Continue reading Are You an Automaton?
How to Be Emotionally Present to Life’s Challenges
by Jennifer Kunst, Ph.D. There is a wish in all of us to be able to get around troubles in life rather than go through them. If only we could skip from the beginning to the end without having to go through the middle. If only we could skip the pain and just have the… Continue reading How to Be Emotionally Present to Life’s Challenges
What’s Your Message?
March is Spiritual Awareness month, a time to gather the holiness within us and grow it. We are all connected by a common thread of spirit and humanity that runs through our souls. We each hold a piece of the big puzzle of life, and all of us are needed to complete the picture. God… Continue reading What’s Your Message?
When The Bank Account Is Full But The Soul Is Lacking
It’s second nature for many people to toil endlessly to achieve what the world at large considers a successful life.Yet success often is often fleeting and sometimes requires us to make decisions that aren’t in our best interests, says Frank P. Daversa, author of the book “Spirituality in the 21st Century.” “How many times has… Continue reading When The Bank Account Is Full But The Soul Is Lacking
The Benefits of Meditation and Waking Up
Waking Up is a daily morning meditation that helps you tap into your inner source of strength and wisdom. These quiet minutes establish your intention to be present and mindful throughout the day. This morning meditation helps to calm, center, and empower you as you establish a peaceful state of mind. It enables you to… Continue reading The Benefits of Meditation and Waking Up
Nature, Art & Religion Boost Immune System
Taking in such spine-tingling wonders as the Grand Canyon, Sistine Chapel ceiling or Schubert’s “Ave Maria” may give a boost to the body’s defense system, according to research done at the University of California, Berkeley and published in January 2015 in the journal Emotion. A release from the university explains that the researchers have linked… Continue reading Nature, Art & Religion Boost Immune System
Prayer Eases Anxiety for Some, But Not All
For many people with anxiety-related disorders, prayer doesn’t ease the symptoms. That’s the finding of research done at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. What seems to matter is the type of attachment a person feels toward God. According to the Baylor study, those who prayed to a loving and supportive God whom they thought would be there to comfort and protect them in times of need were less likely to show symptoms of anxiety-related disorders such as irrational worry, fear, self-consciousness, dread in social situations, and obsessive-compulsive behavior.
Can God Cure Your Break-Up Blues?
Researcher Kristin Laurin of the Stanford Graduate School of Business has explored how faith in God helps people cope with the threat of romantic rejection. A release from the university notes that “God stands in for other relationships in our lives when times are tough”. The study was published on April 17th in Social Psychological and Personality Science,
Religious Music Lifts Our Spirits as We Age
If you need an emotional lift, try listening to hymns. Better yet, choose gospel music. A team of researchers from four top universities reports that listening to religious music is associated with a decrease in anxiety about death and increases in life satisfaction, self-esteem, and sense of control over our lives as we age. In particular, listening to gospel music is linked to reducing anxiety about death and an increase in sense of control.
This Is Your Brain on Meditation
Brown University researchers have intergrated mindfulness meditation with brain imaging and neural signal data to form testable hypotheses about the science of the practice, and the reported mental health benefits. The investigators maintain that their method of coding the reports meditators provide about their mental experiences can be “rigorously correlated with quantitative neurophysiological measurements”.
Religion + Spirituality = Healthier Aging
Religion and spirituality have distinct but complementary influences on health as we age, according to research done at Oregon State University and published in March 2014 in the journal Psychology of Religion and Spirituality.
A release from OSU quotes gerontology professor Carolyn Aldwin, director of OSU’s Center for Healthy Aging Research, as saying, “Religion helps regulate behavior and health habits, while spirituality regulates your emotions, how you feel.”
Giving vs. Receiving
By Dr. Paul Dunion
“Don’t you ever think of others?”
“Make sure you share!”
“That’s you being selfish again.”
7 Ways to Traverse Through Any Transition
By Servet Hasan
None of us can escape loss. Life's challenges are universal and eventually will find us. Whether you're moving to a new city, leaving for college, or experiencing a divorce in your family, having life throw a major curve ball can leave us longing for the way things used to be.